“Godly sincerity” is the last quality of these upright ones.  They are “Israelites without guile.”  Integrity, probity, candor, distinguish them from the “flocks of the companions” by whom they are surrounded.  “As they think in their heart, so do they express the truth.” (Ps. xv. 2; xii. 2; John i. 47.) They know nothing of the “pious frauds” any more than the “indulgences” and “supererogations” by which the “man of sin” sustains his interest.  Their being “without fault before the throne of God,” is the highest commendation possible; yet it does not imply sinless perfection.  It speaks their justification by the righteousness of Christ, and their Christian sincerity, such as God testifies of Job, (ch. i. 8.) Who would not prefer the society and employments of those who are with the Lamb on Mount Zion, to dwelling in the tents of wickedness?  Let our delights be with these excellent ones of the earth.

6.  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7.  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come:  and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.

Vs. 6, 7.—­The apostles, Paul and John agree, as already noticed, in delineating a great defection from the purity and power of Christianity in “the last days.”  Paul calls this event “the Apostacy,” (2 Thess. ii. 3.) while John designates it “the Antichrist.” (1 John ii, 22.) Both these inspired writers use the Greek article, as may be supposed, to emphasize that wicked confederacy of Church and State,—­a confederacy of greater extent and longer continuance than any other conspiracy “against the Lord and his Anointed.”  Against these the saints of God, with Messiah at their head, contend for the allotted period of 1260 years, as we have seen in the three preceding chapters.  On their part the warfare is mostly defensive, and their weapons ordinarily spiritual. (2 Cor. vi. 6, 7.)

From the 6th verse to the close of this chapter are presented, under customary and well-defined symbols, three successive stages of successful reformation, showing how the “two witnesses” manage their scriptural and effective testimony against antichristian error and disorder in organized society.  Three mystic “angels” successively appear, divinely commissioned to execute their respective and appointed work.  These angels have been correctly designated, by judicious expositors, “angels of revival and reform.”  To the intelligent Christian it will be obvious, that without reform there can be no revival.  The popular idea of our time connected with the term revival, is without foundation in the Holy Scriptures.  It does not mean the regeneration of a sinner, nor the first work of the Spirit in conviction.  It presupposes the existence of the vital principle, and the bringing